Before you contemplate applying for funding, see if and how you may fit in at NIH by assessing whether your area of science falls within the NIH mission. You can also learn about qualifying for an independent grant, view options at earlier career stages, get the scoop on the NIH "new investigator" status, and see how to qualify as an investigator or organization working outside the United States.

Writing a successful grant application requires careful planning, starting with choosing a project that will excite the applicatio's audience, its peer reviewers. In this part, we give you a strategy for picking a research project tailored to your experience and qualifications as well as information and advice on designing the research and preparing your application.

There are many additional elements that are important to the overall grant application process and will help in the success of your application. Make sure you've considered these elements before submitting an application for review.

If you are proposing or conducting certain types of research, there may be additional requirements for your application as well as policies you'll need to follow to comply with federal law and NIH requirements.

Take action to prepare for your application's submission by understanding timelines and due dates, learn how to comply with technical requirements, and learn what to do if your application isn't funded.